top of page
<   All Inductees
<  Back to 1999 Induction Page

Nancy Pearce Jeffett

Washington University

| 

1999

Co-founder of the Maureen Connolly Brinker Tennis Foundation and longtime chair of the U.S. Wightman and Federation Cups, Nancy Pearce Jeffett (b.1928) is considered one of the most influential women in tennis. Raised in St. Louis, Jeffett rose to No. 10 in the junior ranks before entering Washington University. Her marriage to businessman Frank Jeffett in 1956 brought her to Dallas, where she assumed a leadership role in the tennis community while raising her two children.

In 1968, Jeffett teamed with Grand Slam champion ‘Little Mo’ Connolly to establish a tennis foundation, for which Jeffett took full responsibility following her friend’s untimely death from cancer. Over the next 30 years Jeffett created an organization that today sponsors a dozen major tournaments and has contributed more than $4 million for player development – from public parks to the professional level. Honored worldwide, Jeffett is celebrated in her hometown with the annual presentation of the Dallas Tennis Association’s Nancy Jeffett Lifetime Achievement Award.

Career Highlights
    Ranked No.10 in USTA Girls’ 18 1946
    USTA/Missouri Valley Singles, Doubles and Mixed Doubles Champion 1948
    Founder, Tyler (Texas) Tennis Association 1954
    Chairman, Texas Tennis Junior Development Program 1960-1982
    Co-founder, Trustee and President, maureen Connolly Brinker (MCB) Tennis Foundation 1968 – present
    Founder, MCB Outstanding Junior Girl Award, presented by the USTA 1969 – present
    Founder, MCB Girls’ 14 national championship 1972 – present
    Founder, Maureen Connolly Challenge Trophy (U.S. vs. Great Britain, ladies 19 and under) 1973 – present
    Founder, Virginia Slims Tournament of Dalls 1975-1989 (began as MCB Memorial Tournament in 1970)
    Founder, ITF Connolly Continental Cup (U.S. vs. all nations, ladies 18 and under) 1976 – present
    Founder, Bonne Bell maureen Connolly Brinker Cup (U.S. vs. Australia, ladies 14, 16, 18) 1977-1991
    Founder, ITF Maureen Connolly Cup (U.S. vs. all national, ladies 55 and over) 1992 – present
    Member, USTA Executive Committee 1973-1994; Chair, Wightman Cup 1978-1990; Chair, Federation Cup 1981-1990; Member, ITF Federation Cup Committee 1988-1996
    Director, International Tennis Hall of Fame 1976 – present (Honorary Life Director)
    Winner of the USTA Service Bowl 1970
    Texas Tennis Association W.T. Caswell Award 1970
    ‘Service to Tennis’ Awards; World Championship Tennis 1983; Chuck McKinley 1993; International Tennis Federation 1994; Virginia Slims 1996
    USTA Samuel hardy Award 1992; Dallas Tennis Association Lifetime Achievement Award 1995 (now named in her honor)
    Girls, Inc. ‘She Knows Where She’s Going’ Award 1999
    Inducted into the Texas Tennis Hall of Fame 1983; St. Louis Tennis Hall of Fame 1999
Other 1999 Inductees
bottom of page